BECKENHAM SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17467, 1 May 1917, Page 2

BECKENHAM SCHOOL.

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED. A roll of honour hoard to embody the names of those residents who had answered the call for service at the front was unveiled at the meeting of householders at the Beckenham Schoolroom, last evening by the Mayor (Mr H. Holland). Mr V. W: Charters, on behalf of the meeting, said that it gave him great pleasure to welcome the Mayor, Sir Holland, who had consented to unveil an honours board to commemorate those Beckenham residents who had enlisted in the service of King and country,' seme of whom had paid the supremo sacrifice. The corridor of the schoolroom was a fitting place wherein to pub tho roll, which would be art inspiration to schoolboys. Miss C. M’Aiister, a girl of eight/ years, on behalf of the Beckenham School children, presented the Mayor - with the Beckenham badge, a rosette of Belgian colours. Tho Mayor said that he was pleased to have tlio honour ' to unveil' a memorial to those brave lads who had put all else aside in order to answer the call to duty in serving their King and country. Some, alas, had paid the supreme sacrifice, but their death bad not been in vain. They bad died fighting for a righteous cause, which was their reward. •• Those fathers and mothers who had lost sons at the front knew what suffering was. _ The mothers of the city were behaving in a most heroic manner in sending thensons from them at {.he bidding of thencountry's call. Tho mothers were indeed heroines in the truest sense of the word. That afternoon he had had the pltifisure of farewelling the Twentyninth Reinforcement quota- It seemed scarcely credible that twenty-nine 'reinforcements besides two main bodies had been recruited from the country’s manhood. Besides sending away the cream of its manhood New Zealand had donated enormous sums (or the benefit of soldiers and others. It was fitting that the names of those Beckenham men who had answered the call should be put up in a prominent place, and what better place could be found than the corridor of the schoolroom where the children’s hearts w-ould thrill with gratitude and emotion when they learn the story cf ' what these heroes had dene. Tho Mavor then unveiled the roll and road out the names of thirty-three men who are to bo inscribed on it.